Transportation is the lifeblood of any economy. Transportation efficiencies, including adequate infrastructure and sound regulatory policies, can contribute greatly to national economic growth and competitiveness. At present, our transportation infrastructure is in a state of disrepair. The safe and efficient movement of freight and people across our country over land, water, or by air requires a renewed commitment to maintenance and expansion of our transportation infrastructure.
1.01. National Transportation Policy
The NAM supports transportation policies that:- Emphasize safety: The public welfare - as well as losses of life, property and productivity - justifies reasonable expenditures and regulations to promote safety.
- Ensure U.S. manufacturing competitiveness by providing increased federal, state, and local funding for maintaining, improving, and expanding public infrastructure: Excise taxes and other fees charged directly for transportation-related development should be used for transportation-related infrastructure expenses. And should encourage alternative financing mechanisms including public-private partnerships, where appropriate.
- Recognize that competition in a free marketplace is the best regulator of prices and services. When government regulation is necessary, it should promote, encourage, preserve, and rely upon competition to the extent possible; should be administered fairly and effi¬ciently; and should ensure adequate and reasonable compensation for private investment. State laws and regulations must recognize and concede to the inherent interstate local and international nature of most transportation movements, and refrain from imposing policies that hinder the free flow of goods.
- Promote efficiency, particularly intermodal movements and efforts to facilitate supply chains: To this end, the NAM supports innovative programs and the use of technology to assist in the efficient, economical movement of goods.
Back to top Adopted Fall 2008 Effective until Fall 2012